Unexpected 1: News

I GENTLY arranged my things on the table after I finished the articles I was working on for the upcoming deadline. I can sleep well now because I finally finished the articles that I had to do. It's about a successful woman who came from being a bit of a bitch. That theme is always given to me, so sometimes I feel sad.

I breathed a sigh of relief after arranging the things on my table. I am currently working as a Journalist in a Magazine Publication. I've been in this field for more than five years and if it wasn't for this job that made our life better, I might have changed my fields. Because the work of a Journalist is not easy, you have to invest most of your time. It's also stressful not only with the work itself but also with the people I interact with. Even though I feel like I can't work and my brain isn't working, because there's a deadline I have to finish certain articles so that the head editor doesn't curse me.

"Miles, are you done? Let's go."

I turned off the computer in front of me, then stood up and faced Andrea, my long-time friend. We met in high school and until now we're still together in the same profession. She is also a journalist at the Magazine Publication I work for but she is in the sports line while I am in the well-known personalities.

I nodded. "Yeah, let's go!" I returned while smiling sweetly. "Finally, I'm done with my article. Just don't let the head revise it," I said.

"Is that an article about Miss Yua?"

I nodded. "Yeah! One of the most inspiring people I've ever known," I commented. "She worked hard for her position right now."

I smiled at my co-workers who were in the room as Andrea and I left. Others are still busy, perhaps also chasing the deadline of their articles. This is how the system becomes every time everyone's deadline is near.

"Bye!" Andrea said goodbye to them. We left the room and took the elevator together.

"By the way, Andrea, how was your date last night?" I was curious about her previous blind date while we were riding in the elevator.

I laughed when I saw the reaction on her face. She seems to hate and regret it. "Don't ask me again about that, Miles, ok? I want to forget that experience. Eww! He's a jerk, Miles. We ate at a well-known restaurant and then he would squeeze his nose in front of me and circle his fingers inside it. like, eww! I don't want to remember that!" She raised his hand and closed her eyes while shaking her head.

I laughed even more at what she said. "Seriously?" She nodded and I couldn't stop laughing. "I told you, don't look for a blind date, that's a blind date. It's hard to find a man these days, handsome, and rich, but a jerk, immature, doesn't have a dream in life and a man looks for a man. You're not lucky if you get that kind of man," I said because I'd already experienced that blind date because of my parents who are always into it to find me a man to get married to.

Andrea stopped and looked at me meaningfully. "Wait." She stopped for a moment and examined me. "That last sentence you said sounds familiar. Is it related to someone, Miles?" Andrea laughed. "After all, Roven is handsome, rich but he's looking for a man."

I stopped laughing and then I realized what I said. Sadness and disappointment appeared on my face. The elevator opened and we got out together. "That's why you shouldn't trust even if you already know the man because they always have something to hide," I reminded her with a serious voice.

"Maybe you're right but not all of them. Why don't you try, Troy? Does he seem interested in you?"

I frowned. "I'm not yet ready, Andrea," I replied.

Andrea shrugged. "Fine."

We finally got out of that building. Andrea and I have separated because the way home from our houses is in a different direction.

I got into my car. I didn't run it right away. The past that I was trying to forget came back to my mind. I sighed and tried to put it out of my mind. Does Roven feel the same way about me?

—

I WONDERFULLY looked at Mommy Emma and Daddy Wesley who seemed to be waiting for me in the living room because they looked like they were going to say something again and I already had an idea what it was about. I frowned when I reached them and waved. I just came from work and I expected them to be asleep.

"What's up?" I asked. The two looked at each other.

"Sit there first," Mom said, which I immediately followed. I sat across from both of them while examining their faces.

"How's work, kid?" Dad asked, who was just segwaying what he wanted to say.

"As usual, it's still the same, Dad," I replied with a frown. "You guys are so weird tonight," I commented.

Mom smiled and came next to me. She gently held my hand and stroked it. "You do know that you are our only child, right?" Mom started.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "We're not sure, Mom. Maybe you're sure but Dad isn't. Maybe there's a child outside who suddenly appeared," I joked. I smiled when I saw their reaction to what I said.

"Your mother knows how loyal I am to her. I am one hundred percent sure that you are my only child," Dad immediately explained.

I laughed. "Chill! I'm just joking, ok? Why are you defensive, Dad?" I continue to joke.

"I'm sure, you're the only daughter of your father because it was hard for him to make a baby," Mom returned and she laughed.

Mom and I just laughed while Dad shook his head at what Mom and I were saying. I also got serious a few minutes ago. "So, what's the matter? Why do you seem to have a surprise for me?" I'll go back to the conversation earlier.

Mom looked at Dad and he nodded at her. "How many more blind dates do we have to go on for you to find a man to marry, Miles?" Mom asked.

I frowned again because of that question from her. "If you intend to take me on a blind date again, I'm not going, Mom. We will just both be tired because no matter what man you present to me, I'm not ready to get married," I explained. I haven't even completely moved on from my previous relationship and then they will force that marriage on me.

"But Miles, you're going thirty this year," Dad replied.

I rolled my eyes at what he said and took a breath. "You still think that curse is true? Mom, Dad, we're in a modern world where witchcraft is not fashionable nowadays. That won't happen."

"What if it's true? We're just worried for you. Your grandmother used to be known in the province that her curse always comes true and it's not unlikely that will happen," Mom insisted.

I scratched my forehead because of that. That curse and the wedding that is supposed to break that curse are being talked about over and over again.

"'Mom, I don't believe in curses. If I grow up to be a young woman because that will be my choice and not because of the curse. If I want to get married after I turn thirty, I will do it," I insisted to them.

"Miles, your Mom and I are afraid for your future. We are old and what if you don't get married? Who will take care of you? How are you? We also want to see the family you will build," Dad said.

"I didn't say I won't get married. What I'm saying is, I'm not ready to get married. I'm not ready to give myself to the man who will come into my life," I explained.

"I'm sorry, Miles, if you feel that your Dad and I are pressuring you, but we're only thinking about your future. We're afraid of your Grandma Flora's curse," Mom said gently.

I sighed. "There is no point in this conversation, Mom. I need to take rest, I'm tired.'" I was about to stand up when Mom stopped me.

"I'm sorry, Miles but your Dad and I agree to do this." Mom looked at me sadly. I was nervous about what she said.

"We know you're under pressure from our repeated insistence on you to get married, but this is the only way we see to break your grandmother's curse. That's no joke," Dad said.

I looked at them, wondering. Sadness was on their faces. "Your dad and his high school friend Andrew's paths have crossed again. He also has a family and has an only son." Mom stopped and bowed slightly while I was nervous about what I would hear from her. "And we agreed to marry you and their son."

It was as if I was deaf to what I heard from her and my hunch was not wrong about what she said. Mom's words kept coming back to my mind. Marry me to a man I don't know?

"M-married?" I said in surprise. "To a man, I don't know and even you and Dad don't know who he is. 'Mom, that's not acceptable. I'll accept it better if it's just a blind date again, but married?" I shook my head. "I can't do that, Mom."

I stood up and walked away from them. Are they crazy to marry me to their friend's son? They don't even know who and what kind of man that father's friend's son is.

I slammed the door of my room and fell on my bed. I closed my eyes tightly while sadness and confusion were on my face. Marry me to someone? Who and what kind of character does that man have? Should I agree to what they want?